10 Dads Who Clean (at Least) Their Fair Share

Studies show that dads who regularly participate in cleaning around the house raise daughters with higher self-confidence and levels of achievement. Good thing for the future, dads that clean aren't such a rarity. Some, we found out, do more than their wives. Here's the breakdown in 10 Mom.me writers' and readers' homes.

"My husband, Ken, does everything I don't want to do: he takes out the trash and recycling, washes clothes, turns on the dishwasher (I don't know why I never want to do that. I just don't like doing it). He also picks up poop in the backyard (the dog's not ours) and shovels the walk. He also takes the cars to the carwash and does any yard work that needs doing in our tiny yard. I cook, do the grocery shopping, clean the kitchen and walk the dog in the morning."

Rebekah Henderson, Mom.me writer

"My husband, Jason, is a huge help. I cook; he does all the dishes. I do most of the cleaning, but he handles the bathroom — my least favorite job. He also does the garbage and cares for the animals (cat and chickens), including cleaning the coop. Funny enough, I do most of the yard work with the exception of anything requiring a power tool. I do most of the laundry and all of the folding, but he's pretty great about throwing in a load if he notices it needs doing. I would say we do equal amounts of chores, but he does the least desirable ones. I'm one lucky gal. And I love what an amazing example he sets for our sons."

Carla Wiking, Mom.me writer

"My husband, Brian, and I split laundry, dishes and dinner duties. He primarily takes care of yard work, garbage, cat litter, vacuuming and cleaning the bathroom, which are all the chores I loathe (I have it made!) He also handles the heavy work like snow shoveling. Our kids try to 'help' both of us."

Darcy Zalewski, Mom.me writer

"In our home, we work together to tackle household chores. I’m responsible for all the cooking, and my husband, Kevin, cleans up the dishes after meals. I do laundry; he irons. I gather the garbage and recycling; he takes it out to the curb. We approach almost every household chore as a team. There is one thing he holds a monopoly on, though, and that’s yard work. I don’t do outside stuff. Especially in the Florida summers."

Elizabeth Flora Ross, Mom.me writer

"When my husband, Jeff, and I were first married, we were very organized. We had a system for chores: we alternated cooking, we cleaned the house together on Saturday mornings, we did yard work together Sunday morning. Then we had kids. We've tried different things, but somehow it never sticks for long. Luckily, he loves to cook (and is good at it). The kitchen has become his domain. I do the grocery shopping and most of the laundry. He and the boys usually pick up toys and I vacuum. Bathrooms are done as needed. Whoever notices it gets to clean it. (I'll admit, it's usually him)."

Ena Stoops, Mom.me reader

"My husband is in charge of all things garbage. It is the one thing I will NOT do. It all stems from when we lived in Chicago and had to bring our trash out to a dumpster behind our apartment building. I was convinced I would find a dead guy in there or a homeless person sleeping. We didn't live in the best 'hood. That habit has carried over since. Everything else is split up pretty well, although the daily clean-up falls more on me, since I'm home. Any major cleaning we do together."

Keryn Means, Mom.me writer

Image via PopCultureMonster

"My husband, Jeff, does most of the housework, even though he works full time. His main claim to fame is the laundry. I haven't done laundry since getting married 20 years ago. Literally. For instance, he is in Europe this week and, with our four kids, the laundry basket is overflowing. But he will be home Saturday morning sorting lights from darks, pre-washing, washing and folding all of it. He even washes delicates. Love him to bits!"

Jennifer Brule, Mom.me writer

"Our household can easily be described as organized chaos. With both of us working full time outside the home, there is no possible way I could do everything on my own around the house. The vast majority of the time I don't have to ask for help. I turn around, and Karl is doing anything from washing the baby bottles, processing laundry, sewing school uniforms, packing school lunches, cleaning the bathroom and cooking amazing meals. I am truly blessed to have him as my husband and co-parent. He is a fabulous role model and father to both of our children."

Laura Soderholm, Mom.me reader

"In general, I do the day-to-day, and he does the heavy stuff. I cook, clean the kitchen after cooking, take in/pick up dry cleaning, organize and tidy the house in general. My husband does the vacuuming, dusting, occasional scouring of the showers/baths and shoveling the snow. We both take out the trash, make beds and do laundry. He does dishes, and I scrub the toilets. We share the load in the way that works best for us."

Mom.me reader

"My husband, Patrick, and I have always shared the household chores, and I dare say he actually does way more than his share. I have a rare form of Rheumatoid arthritis, so anything that takes hand strength he does: mopping, sweeping, vacuuming, scrubbing toilets and showers. I do laundry, dishes and dusting. It depends a lot on just what needs to get done at the time. There isn't anything he refuses to do, and I do as much as I can. We clean as we go a lot of the time. We just tag-team it."

Rena McDaniel, Mom.me reader